Antique Vintage Nouveau Sterling 88 Silver Russian Enamel Diamond Ruby Pendant

Age Circa : Art Nouveau C. Brand : HH - Could not find the maker.

Gram Weight : 17.3 Grams. Material: Guilloche Enamel - Reflective/Iridescent Cobalt Blue Hue. Main Stone: Rose Cut Diamond. Accent Stone Measurements/Color: 2 mm in diameter, Pink/Red Hue.

Stone Treatment: The stones appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists and cannot be sure. Stone Cuts: Rose Cut Diamonds, Cabochon Cut Rubies. Item Measurements: The pendant measures 2.25" in length by just over 1.25" in width by.

Notable Features : This pendant was handmade during the Art Nouveau era in Imperial Russia. The pendant is made in the same Faberge inspired style that was so famous during this time period.

It is fully signed on the back of the pendant with the Cyrillic initials of (HH) and 88 for the silver purity, however we could not find the maker. The pendant is large measuring 2.25 in length and features some of the finest Imperial Craftsmanship I've ever seen. The overall design includes a Imperial double headed Eagle hand set into the middle of the enamel pattern.

The border of the pendant is hand chiseled/chased with a laurel wreath pattern. The clasp is a swivel bale that folds to the back if you want to convert this pendant into a brooch.

The sides of the pendant feature intricate hand stamped scrolling filigree patterns enveloping the border of the pendant. It is finished off with a light gold wash over the silver. Set into the bale are six graduated hand cleaved old Rose Cut Diamonds.

The diamonds feature facets that reflect the light beautifully whenever worn. The Eagle includes three rose cut diamonds and three cabochon cut natural rubies. The enamel would have been hand kiln baked/cooked with small pieces of glass to give the enamel the iridescent and tooled pattern you see in it. It features a cobalt blue hue and has "Rays" built into the enamel in a outward style from the center of the pendant. The enamel was hand curved with the shape of the pendant and features a concave shape, this i have never seen before, it is very rare. The pendant is a museum quality masterpiece and was most likely custom commissioned for an extended member of the royal family. It's not everyday Russian silver hits the open market, most of these prized creations were lost and melted down when the Bolshevik Revolution overthrew the monarchy. We have another similar Russian Pendant for sale, please check out our other items for sale. Please don't miss your chance to own this very special part of history. This listing is for the item only. This was very true due to the gorgeous designs that came out of this period. This era focused on women and the beauty of nature and the pieces were often large. Enamel was a common material used in Art Nouveau jewelry as the period was more about the importance of the design over the materials used to create it. The Art Nouveau period happened before the start of the first World War, when mass manufacturing took over production of many products, including some jewelry.

The Guilloche method of enameling starts with an etched metal base, usually a highly intricate and repeating geometrical pattern, that is then finished with a translucent to semi-translucent enamel to highlight the carved details underneath to show through and add a metallic luster to the piece. Originally Guilloche bases were hand carved, but that changed during the 18th century with the invention of turn engine machinery that could carve metal patterns.

In modern times, the definition of Guilloche became a blanket term for various methods of surface alteration; engraved, printed, or otherwise created. It also came to incorporate carvings which were not necessarily repetitive or geometric. A famous example of this style was explored by Peter Carl Faberge on his eggs during the 19th century. Cartier, Boucheron, and Tiffany all followed suit, creating stunning pieces which are still in high demand today. Enameling originally dates all the way back to the ancient Persians of Meenakari.

The technique involves bonding powdered glass to a base, usually gold, by firing (heating and melting the glass onto the metal). The glass hardens to form a layer of pigment over the metal. Enamel is made of colored powdered glass or may include clear powdered glass that is mixed with colorful metallic pigments.

It was used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Celts; and later the Chinese and Georgians. It resurged in popularity in the 20th century. It is primarily used on decorative art or jewelry, usually small in size.

Besides jewelry, enamel can also be applied to glass, ceramic, stone, and various other materials. Rose cut diamonds have been made for hundreds of years. They date back to the 1500s but really gained popularity during the 1700s and were used until about 1840 when they were replaced with the Mine cut diamond.

Rose cut diamonds are unique in the way that they are one of the last types of stones to feature hand cleaved facets on the stone. These stones are meant to look rough as a stone cutter would hand cleave the facets by cutting the diamond with another diamond. They are highly prized and sought after in today's market due to their rarity as most of these stones were lost or re-cut into more modern cuts. Rubies are one of the four precious gemstones and are prized for their pink to blood red colors. The most valued hue of ruby is called blood-red, or pigeon blood, for the bright, rich hue it exhibits.

The color of a ruby comes from the element chromium. Rubies have adorned royal and religious jewelry for centuries and were especially esteemed in Asian countries like China and India, where they were thought to bring good fortune. Rubies are graded by color, clarity, cut, and carat. Rubies are often also evaluated on the basis of their geographic origin. Laurel leaves have been used in decorative arts since antiquity and carry a variety of meaning. In Ancient Rome and Greece, laurel was said to communicate the spirit of prophecy and poetry and were used to inspire creativity. In Greek mythology, the nymph Daphne changed into a laurel tree to escape the amorous pursuit of the god Apollo, who then granted the tree she had become eternal youth, which is why the laurel tree is evergreen. The heartbroken Apollo declared that her leaves would be used in crowns, which is where the laurel wreath originated. The Christian Bible uses laurel leaves to symbolize peace and protection from evil.

Filigree metalworking is a delicate form of art and has been found as early as 3,000 BC in Mesopotamia. It was perfected by the Phoenicians and Etruscan civilizations between the 6th and 3rd centuries BC. It involves stamping out a design in metal and hand bending and twirling threads, combined with tiny beads, until a final motif emerges. It is reminiscent of lace and considered one of the most difficult metalworking processes.

Filigree is still a very popular technique in India and Asia. The item "Antique Vintage Nouveau Sterling 88 Silver Russian Enamel Diamond Ruby Pendant" is in sale since Sunday, June 24, 2018. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Vintage & Antique Jewelry\Fine\Art Nouveau/Art Deco 1895-1935\Necklaces & Pendants".

The seller is "abeautifultimeco" and is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Ethnic Origin: Russian
Stone #2: Ruby
Country/Region of Manufacture: Russian Federation
Style: Pendant
Material: Enamel
Metal Purity: .

880
Main Stone: Diamond
Metal: Sterling Silver
Brand: HH